Claret Civil Engineering

Forward Corporate Finance is delighted to have advised Andy Gibbons, Managing Director and sole shareholder of Claret Civil Engineering (“Claret”), a specialist water and infrastructure services business based in Suffolk, on the sale of the company to Network Plus, one of the UK’s leading utility and infrastructure service providers.

Established in 1994 and headquartered in Bury St Edmunds, Claret brings over 30 years of experience delivering turnkey solutions across the water, wastewater, and wider infrastructure sectors. The business has built a strong reputation for network maintenance and enhancement activities, ranging from specialist jetting, lining, and CCTV services through to larger-scale network improvement schemes. Operating within several highly collaborative Tier 1 frameworks, Claret has developed long-standing relationships with major water companies and leading contractors.

Following an approach from Network Plus, Andy turned to Forward to guide him through the sale process. The transaction represents an excellent outcome for all parties, with Claret gaining the scale and support of a national operator while Network Plus strengthens its offering within the water and wastewater sectors.

Commenting on the transaction, Andy Gibbons, Managing Director of Claret Civil Engineering, said:
“Amie, Josh, and the team at Forward worked tirelessly to help me achieve a sale of my business. Their meticulous preparation and unwavering support throughout the due diligence phase—including sitting with me and my management team at every step—ensured the deal stayed on track while managing all stakeholders, resulting in a timely and successful completion. A great outcome all around.”

The Forward team, led by Rob Dukelow-Smith and Amie Goodlad, acted as lead advisors to Andy throughout the process, from the initial approach through to completion.

Rob Dukelow-Smith, Director at Forward Corporate Finance, commented:
“It was a real pleasure working with Andy on the sale of Claret. The business has an excellent reputation, a strong customer base, and a highly capable team. This transaction provides a great outcome for everyone involved, and we wish Andy and the team every success as part of Network Plus.”

Legal advice was provided by Alex Forwood, Alex Price, and Caitlin Sparrow at Birketts LLP, with accounting and tax support from Jonathan Moore and Jaimie King at Whitings LLP.